Anguilla: Crime

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1193W, on the Caribbean: crime, what funding the UK provided for the establishment of the Drugs and Crime Task Force in Anguilla.

Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has provided approximately £50,000 in funding for the establishment of the Drugs and Gun Crime Task Force in Anguilla.
	The Drug and Gun Crime Task Force was established in 2006 by the Commissioner of Police in Anguilla. On the request of the government of Anguilla, the FCO provided co-funding for experienced, retired officers from the UK to train and mentor the task force following its inception. The task force is now fully funded by the Royal Anguilla Police Force.

British Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2009,  Official Report, column 166W, on British Overseas Territories: young offenders, how many records on the Overseas Territories Regional Criminal Intelligence System relate to people trafficking offences.

Chris Bryant: There are 199 records held on the Overseas Territories Regional Criminal Intelligence System related to people trafficking.

British Virgin Islands: Crimes of Violence

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1848-49W, on the British Virgin Islands: crimes of violence, how many of the crimes were committed against British tourists in each year.

Chris Bryant: The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force is responsible for the collation of crime statistics. However, they have advised that they do not routinely record crime statistics according to the victim's nationality or immigration status.

Cayman Islands: Crimes of Violence

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009 on the Cayman Islands: crimes of violence, how many of the crimes were committed against British tourists in each year.

Chris Bryant: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Gillian Merron), on 1 June 2009,  Official Report, column 219W, which states that the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service do not record crime statistics according to nationality and are therefore unable to supply this information.

Egypt: Borders

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions  (a) he and  (b) officials in his Department have had with the government of Egypt on the opening to cargo of the Rafah border crossing; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 25 June 2009
	It is vital that aid reaches the people in Gaza who need it. The UK has been consistent in its calls for better humanitarian access to the area. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has raised this issue on a number of occasions, most recently in his statement to the UN Security Council on 11 May 2009.
	My predecessor Bill Rammell raised the issue of access through the Rafah crossing for humanitarian aid providers with the Egyptian Government when he was in Egypt on 21 May 2009. All aid to Gaza from Egypt is channelled through the Egyptian Red Crescent.

Sri Lanka

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Prime Minister's Special Envoy to Sri Lanka next plans to visit the country; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend, the Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, (Des Browne) visited Sri Lanka from 4 to 7 May 2009 in his capacity as a Member of Parliament and as part of a cross party delegation. We are in contact with the Sri Lankan authorities to seek a mutually convenient opportunity for a further visit by a cross party delegation of MPs. Our intention would be for Mr. Browne to again take part.

Demos

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what  (a) private meetings and  (b) public engagements Ministers in her Department have attended at which representatives from the think-tank Demos were present in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
	I can confirm that my predecessor James Purnell attended the following public engagements at which representatives from the think-tank Demos were present in the last 12 months.
	
		
			   Meeting 
			 5 January 2009 Richard Reeves, Demos 
			 23 March 2009 Richard Reeves, Demos 
			 7 May 2009 Demos Reception

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many soldiers serving in Afghanistan since Operation Herrick began have returned from Afghanistan as a  (a) single and  (b) multiple amputee; and if he will make a statement. (260368)

Kevan Jones: holding answer 3 March 2009
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend, the Defence Secretary gave on 16 December 2008,  Official Report, column 554W to the hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell).
	We are currently reviewing the available information concerning amputations which have occurred as a result of Op Herrick, while ensuring that patient confidentiality is maintained. I will write to the hon. Member with the results of this review.
	 Substantive answer from Kevan Jones to  Andrew Robathan:
	The Academic Department of Military Emergency Medicine (ADMEM) at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, has recently begun to collate amputation statistics on a quarterly basis. Their records show that, between 1 April 2006 and 31 march 2009, a total of 51 UK Service personnel have suffered amputations due to injuries sustained while on operation deployment on OP HERRICK. These amputations can range from the loss of part of a finger or toe up to the loss of entire limb(s). There is no consolidated record of the number or nature of the amputations for each patient and that information could only be collated at disproportional cost.
	Prior to 1 April 2006, comprehensive records were not held centrally and historic date could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	I hope this provides you with the information you require.

Piracy: Navy

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for New Forest East of 22 June 2009,  Official Report, column 626W, on piracy, under what authority the Royal Navy seizes piracy equipment from suspected pirates.

Bill Rammell: Royal Navy vessels participating in counter-piracy operations are provided with detailed rules of engagement (ROE) setting out the measures they may take in relation to pirate vessels, including the seizure of suspected pirate vessels and equipment. These ROE are in accordance with international law, including the United Nations convention on the law of the sea (UNCLOS), and are kept under regular review.

Bus Services: Concessions

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many pensioners in  (a) Merseyside and  (b) Crosby received a concessionary bus pass in the latest period for which figures are available.

Sadiq Khan: Transport is not responsible for issuing passes and so does not maintain records of how many passes individual authorities have issued.
	Merseyside and Crosby are part of the Merseytravel area. The last information held by the Department is that as of March 2009 Merseytravel had issued 307,132 passes to older and disabled people.

Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2009,  Official Report, column 704W, on the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission, who the UK representatives on the Intergovernmental Commission are; and how they were selected.

Chris Mole: The UK delegation to the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) currently comprises: Roy Griffins, Head of the UK delegation; Richard Clifton, Head of the UK delegation to the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority; Chris Whomersley, Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Tom Dowdall, Home Office; Herve Mathevet, HM Revenue and Customs; Linda Willson, Department for Transport; and Brian Kogan, Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). The delegation may be accompanied at meetings by expert advisers in relation to specific items on the agenda.
	The Head of UK delegation, the Safety Authority representative, and the Office of Rail Regulation member are appointed by the Department following consultation with the Office of Rail Regulation. The Department also appoints its own representative. The remaining members of the UK delegation are nominated by the department or authority they represent.

Channel Tunnel Railway Line

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2009,  Official Report, column 704W, on the Channel Tunnel railway line: fares, if he will request the Intergovernmental Commission to raise with Eurotunnel the level of track access charges through the Channel Tunnel, with particular reference to the implementation of his policy of encouraging  (a) high speed passenger rail traffic and  (b) international rail freight.

Chris Mole: Under Article 12(1) of the Treaty of Canterbury of 1986, Eurotunnel are free, within the framework of national and Community law, to determine their commercial policy and tariffs.
	It would be improper for the Intergovernmental Commission to consider any representation from the Department for Transport on this matter.

Channel Tunnel Railway Line

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to his answer of 18 June 2009,  Official Report, column 427W, on the Channel Tunnel railway line, for what reason no recent assessment of the effect of track access charges on the potential growth of international freight through the Channel Tunnel has been made.

Chris Mole: Any assessment of the effect of track access charges on the potential growth of international freight through the Channel Tunnel is a matter for Eurotunnel and the rail freight operators.

Departmental Billing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of 3 June 2009,  Official Report, column 484W, on departmental billing, how much his Department's non-departmental public bodies paid in interest under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 in the last three years.

Chris Mole: One of the Department for Transport's non-departmental public bodies, the Commission for Integrated Transport, incurred a cost of £91.13 (£50.00 late payment interest and a penalty charge of £41.13) in 2008-09 under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.
	None of the Department for Transport's other non-departmental public bodies paid interest under the Act for the last three years.

Speaker: Elections

John Mann: To ask the Leader of the House if she will publish lists of all hon. Members who participated in each round of voting to elect a Commons Speaker on 22 June 2009.

Barbara Keeley: No list of Members who voted in the secret ballot is compiled.

Marketing: Apprentices

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much the Central Office of Information spent on  (a) producing advertising and  (b) buying advertising space as part of the Make Things Happen apprenticeships advertising campaign.

Tessa Jowell: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Central Office of Information. I have asked the Chief Executive to reply.
	  Letter from  Mark Lund, dated June 2009:
	As Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information (COI), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on the Make things Happen apprenticeships campaign (266498).
	COI supplied details of costs incurred in the campaign as part of the response given to the hon. Member by the Learning Skills Council's acting chief executive (30 March 2009,  Official Report, column 871W). Copies of the letter sent to the hon. Member by the acting chief executive are available in the libraries of the House.

Farming: Finance

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2009,  Official Report, column 1056W, on dairy farming: finance, 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost of obtaining the information requested;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2009,  Official Report, column 1057W, on livestock: finance, what estimate he has made of the cost of obtaining the information requested.

Jim Fitzpatrick: For historical reasons relating to the formation of the Rural Payments Agency, the data required to provide the information requested pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2009,  Official Report, column 1056W on dairy farming and column 1057W on livestock is held on three finance systems. The process to reconcile the information to provide accurate financial information in the form requested is resource intensive, time consuming and would cost more than £750 to collate.

World Environment Day 2009

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what World Environment Day 2009 events his Department supported; at which events his Department was represented; and what steps his Department took to promote World Environment Day 2009.

Dan Norris: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State (Hilary Benn) was represented by Peter Unwin, Director General of DEFRA's Environment and Rural Group, at the opening of the new Three Mills Lock on World Environment Day. Three Mills Lock is a key piece of Olympic Park infrastructure and the largest mechanism of its kind built on London waterways for more than 20 years. It will help take lorries off local roads, reduce thousands of tonnes of CO2 and ease local congestion. It will also provide a green freight route for the redevelopment of East London, and open up the waterways for boaters, walkers and cyclists. Secretary of State supplied some quotes for a British Waterways media release.
	Lord Hunt attended the Basic 21 Sustainable School Awards, which took place at Austin Court, Birmingham and was part of a number of events to launch "Green Day" on World Environment Day. Green Day is a one-day event for schools about climate change, sustainability and the built environment, inviting 350 primary and secondary schools and nearly 100,000 pupils to become more sustainable in the run up to the UN Climate Change conference in Copenhagen later this year.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1473W, on abortion, how many abortions were performed in pregnancies of 24 weeks or more in 2008.

Gillian Merron: There were 124 abortions performed at gestations of 24 weeks or over in 2008.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Lynne Jones: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1785W, on chronic fatigue syndrome: research, when the Medical Research Council plans to set up a panel of experts from different disciplines to look at the subtypes and causes of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

David Lammy: The Medical Research Council (MRC) set up in 2008 a panel of experts from different disciplines to look more closely at chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). The group is reviewing the current research and will identify additional opportunities with the aim of stimulating further research into CFS/ME, in particular focusing on the causes of the condition. The MRC hopes that this will encourage new research towards understanding the aetiology and subtypes of CFS/ME and lead to an advancement of knowledge in this field and the development of new therapeutic approaches.

Higher Education: Merseyside

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of 18 to 25 year olds resident in  (a) Merseyside and  (b) Crosby were in higher education (i) in 1997 and (ii) on the latest date for which information is available.

David Lammy: The Government do not collect data on the number of adults resident in a particular area who are not in higher education, so it is not possible to calculate the proportion of 18 to 25 year-olds from Merseyside and Crosby who were in higher education in any given year.
	The number of 18 to 25 year-old students from Merseyside and Crosby who were enrolled in higher education are shown as an alternative in the following table. Figures for the 2008-09 academic year will be available in January 2010.
	
		
			  18-25 year old enrolments( 1)  from Merseyside and Crosby constituency( 2)  UK higher education institutions 
			  Academic y ear  Merseyside  Crosby 
			 1997-98 18,290 1,545 
			 2007-08 24,345 1,885 
			 (1) Covers undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled on full-time and part-time courses. (2) Parliamentary constituency are defined by full and valid home postcodes recorded on the HESA student record.  Note:   Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December and are rounded to the nearest five.  Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Crime

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2009,  Official Report, column 185W, on crime, when he expects incident data for 2008-09 to be available.

Alan Johnson: Data sets for incidents as defined within the National Incident Category List (NICL) are now available for 2008-09 and are provided in the table. NICL is subject to annual review and amendment, when some categories may be deleted or revised, or new ones created. The data are normally used for management information only and are not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics publications.
	 The national incident category list (NICL)
	 Transport:
	Road Traffic Collision (RTC)—Death
	RTC—Serious Injury
	RTC—Minor Injury
	RTC—Damage Only
	Highway Disruption
	Road Related Offence
	Rail/Air/Marine Incident Not Recorded Elsewhere
	 Antisocial Behaviour:
	Abandoned Vehicles—(Not Stolen Or Causing An Obstruction)
	Animal Problems
	Begging/Vagrancy
	Hoax Calls To Emergency Services
	Inappropriate Use/Sale/Possession Of Fireworks
	Malicious/Nuisance Communications
	Noise
	Prostitution Related Activity
	Rowdy/Nuisance—Environmental Damage / Littering
	Rowdy/Nuisance—Neighbours
	Rowdy/Nuisance—Rowdy or Inconsiderate Behaviour
	Street Drinking
	Solvent Misuse
	Trespass
	Vehicle Nuisance/Inappropriate Vehicle Use
	 Public Safety/Welfare:
	Abandoned Call
	Absconder/AWOL
	Alarm: Monitoring Station—False-Active
	Alarm: Monitoring Station—False-Withdrawn
	Alarm: Police Installed
	Alarm: Premises Audible only
	Breach Of Injunction/Court Order
	Civil Disputes
	Collapse/Illness/Injury/Trapped
	Concern for Safety
	Domestic Incident
	Firearms
	Immigration
	Industrial Incident/Accident
	Insecure Premises/Vehicles
	Licensing
	Missing Person-High Risk
	Missing Person-Medium Risk
	Missing Person-Low Risk
	Missing Person-Unauthorised Absence
	Natural Disaster/Incident/Warning
	Pets/Domesticated Animals
	Protest/Demonstration
	Sudden Death
	 Public Safety/Welfare:
	Suspicious Circumstances
	Suspicious Package/Object
	Truancy
	Wildlife
	 Administration:
	Bail/Curfew: Checks/Breach/Wanted Person
	Cancel/Exit/Error
	Complaints Against Police
	Contact Record
	Duplicate
	Lost/Found Property/Found Person
	Messages
	Police Generated Resource Activity
	Pre-Planned Events
	Test/Training
	 Qualifiers:
	 Hate/discrimination:
	Racial
	Religion
	Disability
	Sexual Orientation
	Transgender
	 Qualifiers:
	 O ther characteristics:
	Alcohol
	Assistance to Other Public Agency
	Call Made with Good Intent
	Cold Calling
	Critical Incident
	Other Intoxicants
	Domestic Abuse
	Drugs
	Firearms
	Information Only
	Major Incident
	Mental Health
	Other Public Agency/Police Force Dealing
	Persistent Caller
	Weapons
	Vulnerable Child/Young Person
	Youth Related age under 10
	Youth Related age 10 to 17 years